Invista expanding in Camden, adding 50 jobs

CAMDEN Invista will expand its Camden-area production facility, investing $20 million and creating about 50 jobs by the first part of 2014. The company’s Performance Surfaces & Materials business will be better positioned to serve its carpet mill customer base, specifically in the Southeast, company officials said. Invista already has about 700 employees at the plant. The expansion will start in early 2013 and includes new equipment and reconfiguration of existing equipment. New employees will be phased in during the year-long expansion. For jobs, see invistacareers.com.

Fiber optics products maker expanding in Duncan, adding 95 jobs

DUNCAN A maker of fiber optic products and equipment will expand its Spartanburg County operations, investing $8.6 million and creating 95 jobs within about a year. AFL will move its 110 current employees into a new building in Duncan and then add a new product line at its existing Duncan facility. For jobs, see AFLglobal.com or call Scott Wheeler at (864) 433-0333.

MW Industries expanding in Greer, creating 10 jobs

GREER MW Industries, a specialty spring and fastener manufacturer, will expand its Springmasters/B&S Screw Machine Division in Greenville County, creating 10 jobs, the company said Wednesday. The company is consolidating its acquisition of a Concord, N.C. manufacturer into its Greer operations. The growth allows the company to “meet growing needs in the medical, robotics and power tool markets in particular, which require the unique capability to machine complex parts with very precise tolerances,” Greer plant general manager Cindy Runnette said in a statement, adding that she see tremendous regional growth opportunities. Jobs being added include machinists, CNC programmers and quality support positions. Submit resumes to ltooley@mw-ind.com.

Mortgages a mixed bag for banks

NEW YORK For banks, mortgage-making kept profits humming before the financial crisis, then blackened reputations and stamped out earnings when the crisis hit. Now, the business of mortgage lending is more of a mixed bag. Bank of America, the country’s second-biggest bank, reported Wednesday that mortgage originations jumped over a year ago – up 18 percent to $21 billion. But the mortgage unit still lost money as the bank worked through problem mortgages issued before the crisis. It’s the latest sign that five years after the housing bubble burst, mortgages remain thorny for the banking industry.

The Associated Press contributed.